What is the most sophisticated, scientifically the most advanced and economically the most efficient manufactured product ever produced in South Asia? Answer: Joint Fighter JF-17. Who has produced the least expensive, light-weight, multi-role fighter aircraft on the face of the planet? Answer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
To be certain, PAC could not have done it without Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC). In February 2001, discerning descendents of Indus Valley's Bronze Age civilisation, led by Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir (SI, HI, NI), decided to team up with the fertile offspring of Bronze Age culture of Chengdu, some three thousand kilometre away.
Kamra, with Chengdu's assistance, wanted to do what had never been done before. And, dong what has never been done before is awfully tough to do. Kamra needed a billion dollars to do that just when net reserves with the State Bank of Pakistan were under two billion dollars. Kamra had to be innovative, creative and ingenious - all in one. Kamra managed to persuade China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) to lend a billion dollars in return for a paltry $60 million down payment (no payment for 2 years and then repayment spread over 5 years at an interest rate of 1.4 percent).
Land, labour and capital finally came together. Kamra and Chengdu, in a record time span of 30 months, produced three flying prototypes and a static prototype. In June 2003, low speed taxing trials began. On 25 August 2003, the first prototype made its successful maiden flight that lasted 17 minutes. On 2 September 2003, prototype designation PT-01 made its flight performance verification.
On 7 April 2004, Sqn. Ldr. Rashid Habib and Sqn. Ldr. Ehsan-ul-Haq flew PT-01 for the first time. Prototype PT-02 successfully went through load testing and static ground tests. On 9 April 2004, third prototype PT-03 made its successful maiden flight. In 2005, there were reports from test-pilots regarding some control problems. There were reports also that the Soviet-designed Klimov RD-93 engine was emitting excessive amounts of smoke (in RD-93 gearbox has been repositioned along the bottom of the engine casing).
As a consequence, CAC undertook design changes that included "re-designed air intakes, larger leading edge root extensions (LERX), longer ventral fins under-neath the rear of the fuselage and a taller vertical stabiliser fin, with lower angle of sweep and rectangular electronic warfare equipment housing at the tip. "On 28 April 2006, PT-04, with all the design changes, went through weapons integration and avionics testing. PT-05 went through fatigue sting and finally, on 10 September 2006, PT-06 passed avionics testing. On 2 March 2007, Kamra received two JF-17 Thunders in dismantled form. On 23 March 2007, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed (SI, HI, NI) ordered JF-17s to take part in our Independence Day Parade.
Currently, F-7 Skybolts are PAF's primary air defence fighters. PAF has 192 F-7s and we are the largest non-Chinese F-7 operator. Next in line are the French-designed Dassault Mirage IIIs, supersonic interceptor aircraft, and Dassault Mirage 5s, supersonic attack aircraft, of which PAF has 181. Then we have A-5s, light bombers, of which we have 41. By far, PAF's most capable fighters are the multi-role dogfighters the F-16 Fighting Falcons with frame-less bubble canopy, side-mounted control stick, internal M-61 Vulcan cannon and 11 hard-points for mounting missiles, bombs and pods.
Our Mirage IIIs (service entry: 1967), Mirage 5s (service entry: 1973), a-5s (SERVICE ENTRY: 1983) and F-7s (service entry: 1988) are all getting old. Plus, PAF operates combat aircraft, some 2-dozen front-line squadrons, of 5 different types. PAF desperately needs to replace its aging fleet plus reduce the types of aircraft being operated. By 2010, the first squadron of JF-17 would be in place. By 2012, at least 58 percent of JF-17 would be made in Kamra. By 2015, the entire fleet of F-7 would be replaced with JF-17.
PAF's JF-17s are fitted with KLJ-7 radar. It has mid-mounted wings, lateral air intakes, single-frame bubble cockpit canopy and two under-belly stabilising fins. The radar has 25 working modes and a non-breakdown time of 200 hours, capable of "look-down, shoot-down" as well as ground strike capability.
PAF JF-17s have an avionics architecture that is supported by two mission computers, 32-bit Weapon and Mission Management Computer, independent data link, a self production jammer, missile approach warning system, identification of Friend or Foe, three Multifunction Color Displays, Smart Heads-Up Display with built-in symbol generation capability and Laser Designator and Targeting Pod for target illumination and detection with day/night capabilities.
Weapons include dual-barrel 23mm or 30 mm cannon, beyond-visual-range attack capability, air-to-air missile, day/night delivery of laser-guided weapons, low-drag general-purpose bombs and unguided rocket launchers. JF-17 has a combat radius of 1,350 kilometers.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has F-6 Rebuild Factory, Mirage Rebuild Factory, Avionics and Radar Factory and an Aircraft Manufacturing Factory making Kamra home to the world's 3rd largest assembly plant. The aircraft has good export potential and friendly countries are showing interest in the fighter. JF-17 is a dream comes true in Kamra.
A fighter pilot is not known when the "sea is calm and the weather is fair". Our PAF is now being led by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Tamgh-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitare-e-Basalat, Sitare-e-Imtiaz, Hilale-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military). The new chief is soft-spoken but chivalrous. He has been in g-suits and has exhibited high tolerance to both vertical and horizontal g-force.
He has been through brownouts, blackouts and tunnel visions. For 34 years, he has been flying though jet streams, air currents commanding Peshawar, Air War College, Southern Air Command and Air Force strategic Command over turbulent seas. Remember, in a calm sea every man is a pilot.
Imagine; Made in Kamra flying machines cruising at Mach 1.6 (1.6 times the speed of sound). Imagine; Make in Kamra light weight, multirole combat aircraft safeguarding Sudanese, Azerbaijani, Zimbabwean, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Iranian and Nigerian air space. Imagine; a hundred years ago, Lord Kelvin, the British arithmetical physicist, said, "heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
INDIGENIZATION IN JF-17 PROGRAMME - A KEY TO SUCCESS
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